What is burn-in and how can I avoid getting it on my TV?

Burn-in is a visible mark that is left on the screen and remains no matter what you are watching or doing. This may be caused by leaving a fixed image on the screen for a long period of time and can be particularly noticeable on OLED TVs.

The following might be the cause of burn-in on your TV screen:

• channel logos from sports, news or weather channels
• fixed images from icons, banners or gaming user interfaces

Fortunately, Samsung QLED TVs are some of the most durable displays on the market and have been certified burn-in free.

Do not unplug the power cord

Many TVs have a feature called auto refresher. This will shift the entire image on the TV by a few pixels every now and then. This can help to prevent burn-in as any static images and logos will be moved around. This feature will only work if the TV is connected to a power supply. Avoid leaving your TV unplugged for long periods of time.

Avoid playing video games that display fixed images for a long time

Most video games have some form of user interface that gives you more information. This could be the speedometer in a racing game or the crosshair and health bar in an action game. If these features stay in the same place or you are playing the game for a prolonged amount of time, burn-in could occur.

Avoid watching news channels that display fixed images for a long time

Many news and weather channels feature banners or logos on the screen that stay in the same place for the entirety of the programme. If you regularly watch the same programmes or watch the programme for a prolonged amount of time, burn-in could occur.

Avoid watching movies in 21:9 format for a long time

Movies in the 21:9 format will often have black bars at the top and bottom of the screen. If your TV has these area blank for a prolonged amount of time while displaying image elsewhere, burn-in could occur.

Get a Samsung QLED TV

Samsung QLED TVs have been tested to ensure that they are unaffected by burn-in and afterglow. This means that fixed images can be displayed on them without any risk, regardless of the duration.